How To Flash Your Portenta X8

Overview

In this tutorial you will see how to manually flash your Portenta X8 with the image that is provided by Foundries.io through USB using the Terminal.

Attention: We encourage you to check every now and then if the device image version is up to date in order to have the latest bootloader, please check the release section of the lmp-manifest repository and compare the target version number

Goals

• Get the required files
• Set up the correct structure of the files
• Set up the board
• Flash the device

Required Hardware and Software

• USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C
• Portenta X8
• Portenta Breakout Board or Portenta Max Carrier
• Arduino Create account
• Arduino Pro Cloud Subscription. Learn more about the Pro Cloud.
• Foundries.io account (linked with the Pro Cloud subscription)
• FoundriesFactory® (Check the Getting Started tutorial)
• 1 Device already attached to your factory (Check the Getting Started tutorial)

Instructions

Get the Required Files

Required files following this structure:

Copy
1Root folder
2├── imx-boot-portenta-x8
3├── lmp-partner-arduino-image-portenta-x8.wic.gz **(Compressed)**
4├── mfgtool-files-portenta-x8.tar.gz **(Compressed)**
5├── sit-portenta-x8.bin
6└── u-boot-portenta-x8.itb

To get those files:

Arduino's GitHub Repository

Go to the

lmp-manifest

.tar.gz

Through Foundries.io

Open your FoundriesFactory®.

Switch to the targets tab.

Click on the platform-master version.

On the "Runs" section open those collapsed labels, and download the files listed above by clicking on their text (like a normal link).

After downloading them, make sure you put them in a folder following the structure shown and extract the compressed files.

Set the Portenta X8 to Flashing Mode

Plug your Porenta X8 into your carrier (Portenta Breakout carrier ).

Switch both DIP switches to the ON position.

Plug the USB-C end into the Portenta X8 and the other end (USB-C or USB-A) to your computer.

You will see a new device connected called

SE Blank M845S

Flash the Device

Open a terminal and change the directory (

cd

Use the

uuu full_image.uuu

Wait until it gets flashed.

Switch back the DIP switches to OFF position.

Unplug and then plug in the Portenta X8 to your computer.

After booting you will need to wait 10 secs, until the Portenta X8 blue LED starts blinking, this means the boot was successful

Troubleshooting

• If you get an error while its flashing, make sure your USB is correctly plugged in. Re-plug your board and try to flash again, you may need few tries before the flashing is successful.